The diagnosis value of blood glucose combined glycosylated hemoglobin in gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes mellitus is a common complication in gestation period, and single diagnostic test of blood glucose always results in misdiagnosis. Previous studies showed that glycosylated hemoglobin was a promising biomarker for screening, diagnosis and treatment of diabetes. Combined measurements can improve the sensitivity and specificity of diagnosis. Thus, our study aimed to explore the diagnostic value of combined measurements of blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin in gestational diabetes mellitus. 278 samples of pregnancy were enrolled. Duration of pregnancy was from 24 weeks to 28 weeks. 52 cases of pregnancy were confirmed gestational diabetes mellitus by 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and enrolled in experimental group. 123 samples of normal pregnancy were collected as control group. Samples of fasting venous blood were collected for examination the levels of blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c). Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve was established to analyze the diagnostic value of combined measurements. Compared with control group, experimental group had significantly higher levels of HbA1c and 75 g OGTT. HbA1c was positively correlated with blood glucose in pregnancy with gestational diabetes mellitus. Area under the curve of HbA1c ROC was 0.854 (P<0.01). When HbA1c was at cutoff value (5.43%), Youden index reached to the highest value (0.596), while the sensitivity and specificity were 0.832 and 0.764, respectively. Combined measurements of blood glucose and HbA1c reduced the sensitivity of diagnosis, while improved specificity and increased Youden index for the diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus. Combined measurements of blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin have promising diagnostic value in the diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus.